A statement from the charity said: "Under challenging circumstances for all charities, our income for 2016/17 remained steady with 2014/15. Income fell compared with 2015/16 as anticipated, and this was principally due to an exceptional legacy gift we received during that financial year."

Expenditure was £50.9m, a slight increase from £49.3m the previous year, according to the accounts.

In his introduction to the latest accounts, Sir Andrew Cahn, chair of the WWF, says the charity "will need a revolution in the level of our funding if we’re to achieve the step-change in our impact that we’re determined to accomplish".